Is it permissible for the renal failure patient to break fasting?

16-9-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

My brother suffers from renal failure and he must use a blood filter for the whole night as well as taking medications during the daytime. Now, he is fasting in Ramadhaan, but I want to know whether it is permissible for him to break the fast or not.
May Allaah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

If fasting is unbearably difficult for this person, then it would be permissible for him not to fast. However, if reliable doctors have said that refraining from taking medications or delaying them will harm him, then it would be obligatory for him to break his fast.

If there is hope for him to be cured, then he would be required to make up for the missed fasting days when he recovers.

If his disease is incurable, then he would be required to feed a needy person for each missed fasting day, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day].} [Quran 2:184]

Nevertheless, if he is able to fast without harm or unbearable difficulty, then, it would be obligatory for him to fast.  

Allaah Knows best.